Midfielder Betsy Hassett has called time on her international career, announcing her retirement from the Football Ferns.<\/p>\n
Hassett (35) played 160 games for New Zealand, scoring 16 goals, in her 17-year international career.<\/p>\n
She was a member of four FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup squads, represented New Zealand at three Olympic Games, and is the third-most-capped Fern of all time.<\/p>\n
Acknowledging Hassett\u2019s contribution, NZ Football told social media followers: \u201cA role model in every sense and a Ferns icon through and through. Thank you for everything, Betsy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Auckland-born Hassett began playing football at four, and played school football, captaining Avondale College\u2019s girls first team.<\/p>\n
She left for the United States in 2009 for three seasons with the California Golden Bears, at the University of California, Berkeley.<\/p>\n
Her club career took her to big-name clubs such as Manchester City (UK), Werder Bremen (Germany), Ajax (Netherlands) and Stjarnan (Iceland), and a season in the women\u2019s A-League with the Wellington Phoenix in 2022-23.<\/p>\n
Hassett and partner Gummi became parents to son N\u00f3i in 2024.<\/p>\n
Main photo: Betsy Hassett leads out the Ferns to play Argentina in 2023. Photo: Shane Wenzlick \/ Phototek<\/a>.<\/p>\n This story was first published on February 13, 2026.<\/p>\n